Lungs are simply not the popular hot topics that hearts or stomachs are.  FLASS does not believe that lungs get quite their fair share of attention, even in casual conversation.  Lungs are simply not discussed quite as often.

Lungs can be the seat of many chronic diseases, but family support can allay many of the patient's anxieties.

“Mom has COPD. But, She Manages to Live an Almost Normal Life Thanks to Physicians at FLASS.”

If people have heart problems or stomach issues, we hear about it all the time.  Lungs can sometimes make life just as difficult as hearts or stomachs, but lungs are not as openly or quickly discussed.

As a result of the Mother’s Day Holiday, we are more focused on mothers, and thus on women.  So it’s a good time to give you some startling statistics.  These are not only about mothers but about all women and their lungs.

We began the week with Mother’s Day on Sunday.  our attention is still very much on her.  Now the Mother’s Day cards are on the mantle.  And the flowers are in their vases.  However, we at FLASS believe Mother’s Day should last all week.

COPD and Ladies’ Lungs:  The Facts Behind the Warnings

Inspired young scientist develops new ways to control a better quality of life with COPD.

Young Scientist Working on Treatment for COPD.

We are sending out a wake-up call to all men who are husbands, sons, brothers or friends of women. (COPD).  Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists wants you to know that more than “7 million women in the U.S. live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” COPD.

  • In fact, COPD is a condition which brings two diseases for the price of one.  chronic bronchitis and emphysema. That’s right.  You are often diagnosed with both if you have COPD.
  • Moreover, millions more women are never diagnosed or they have been misdiagnosed by with asthma.
  • Experts have revealed, “In fact, the number of deaths among women from COPD has increased four-fold over the past three decades.”
  • Likewise, we are sad to report that since 2000, more women than men in this country have died of the disease.”

For Women, COPD involves more than a Lady’s Lungs

Statistics also show that women who are diagnosed with COPD have higher rates of COPD symptoms that don’t directly involve lungs:
They suffer from more anxiety than male patients.
They have higher rates of depression.
Women report a lower quality of life in general than their male counterparts.

The American Lung Association:  Report on Women’s Lungs

Long committed to education, the American Lung Association has created a new release.  Its publication is called “Taking Her Breath Away:  The Rise of COPD in Women.  The American Lung Association is currently very concerned with protecting lung health and creating solutions to lung health disparities between men and women.  Based on the report, let’s take a look at some of the ways women experience COPD.

Trying to Live, Love, Laugh and Take Care of Your Lungs

Grandparents and Grandchildren Relax Together at Seashore.

Quiet Time with Family Becomes More Precious When Faced with COPD.

For anyone, COPD is a disease that exacts a terrible toll on families as well as patients.  COPD is chronic in nature.  Patients often endure “years of poor health, lost productivity and costly healthcare expenses.”  Some of the costs of COPD are statistically higher than those paid by men:

  1. Women who are subject to COPD have more frequent disease flare-ups than men.  Females encounter diseases “which lead to “sudden worsening of COPD symptoms that are often caused by a cold or other lung infection.”
  2. Women require more frequent emergency or hospital care than their male counterparts.  We also believe that it is these attacks that might instigate longer stays in the Hospital than male patients.  Sadly, in men or women, each flare-up accelerates “the progressive loss of breathing ability, eventually leading to long-term disability and death.”

Amazing Facts about Female Lungs:  Why COPD is Claiming More Women’s Lives

Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons more women then men are dying from this disease:  The FLASS List:
A basic contributing factor to the new statistics is that female lungs and airways are simply smaller than male.

  • Women typically have a smaller amount of respiratory muscle to move air in and out.
  • Much of the research has proven that “Women are more vulnerable than men to lung damage from cigarette smoke and other pollutants.  As a result, cigarette smoke and other lung irritants get more concentrated when they are inhaled, and can cause more damage.”
  • Likewise, the female sex hormone estrogen also increases the lung damage from smoking.  Research proves that the female body alters the way nicotine is broken down into harmful compounds.
  • Social reasons also are factors.  Why is it that the data shows that women with COPD are 1.5 times more likely to have never smoked than men with COPD?  Researchers believe it indicates they are also “at greater risk from other causes of the disease.  This includes items such as “secondhand smoke, harmful workplace exposures and outdoor air pollution.”

FLASS Invites You To Learn More

Discomfort involving the Lungs and COPD can be greatly alleviated with proper care.

At Flass, Our Patient-Centered Care Helps You Cope with the Challenges of COPD.

FLASS invites you to download the new release of the Rise of COPD in Women.  This report is a consumer version.  It is a patient-friendly version for consumers and patients.

Likewise, you can access a detailed version of the Rise of COPD in Women report at this notable online location.

Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists dedicated today’s blog to disparities between genders.  And COPD disparities in lung health can exist along with other lines also.  Check them out by reading more initiatives by the American Lung Society at this online resource.

Thank you for reading the FLASS blog.  And please return for more news you can use about the respiratory system.  And to all of our readers, women and men, please we implore you,  ‘Live, Love, Laugh and Take Care of Your Lungs.’